With the X-Files movie coming out onto DVD soon, i thought I'd stop putting off the review to Mark Snow's score, and here it is.
I'd like to begin with saying how surprised I am to find so little X-Files soundtracks there was produced. For the television series, only one album and one score album were made, along with a soundtrack for each movie. (I think Fight the Future had both an album and score, but don't quote me on that.) A lot of science fiction/cult shows seem to have a lot of music released to appease their crazed fans (i.e. Star Trek), but X-Files does not seem to be one of them.
Which is a shame because Mark Snow's music has really grown on me, just as X-Files has over the last year or so. I Want to Believe is different kind of score compared to the previous Fight the Future, but this is because they're two different kinds of films. Fight the Future is more a straight action - suspense piece while I Want to Believe has more of the ambient feel of Snow's earlier seasons.
The title theme of X-Files is present, but Snow does not utilize it as much as in FTF. There are a couple nice hints of it in "Looking for Mulder" and "March and Dig," but it's not until "Home again" that we hear the biggest quote of the theme, and still it's mostly in fragments. Surprisingly, the remix after that is pretty good, It manages to stay true to Snow's theme while being original in its arrangement. Best of all, it still fits in with Snow's score.
There is a secondary theme, heard in "Ybara the Strange" and "The Surgery." It's a haunting and mournful tune that helps fill in for the absence of the main theme. "Box Them" has this theme, present on piano, playing into another short quote of the X-Files theme.
The rest of the score has a lot of tense moments with some quiet ones, but on the whole, nothing too remarkable. "Foot Chase" has some great energized string movement. "The Trip to DC" should sound very familiar to FTF fans. "Can't Sleep" sounds like something I've heard in the series. I enjoyed the music on the soundtrack, but it's too restrained to be put in the same category as Fight the Future. B-
Recommended Tracks:
2. No Cures/Looking for Fox
8. March and Dig/ Girl in the Box
10. The Surgery
13. Foot Chase
15. Photo Evidence
19. Box Them
20. Home Again
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Nine: A Shot in the Dark
DEKKER – Silenced Thaddeus from talking to Daring and Sara. During the ensuing fight, Dekker sends the car lift down on top of Daring.
As the car lift came rushing down to crush him, Richard Darington rolled towards the lift, falling into the worker’s pit beneath it. Daring looked up from within the pit as the descending lift came to an abrupt stop.
Dekker tried to peered underneath the car, hoping to catch a glimpse of Daring so that he could shoot him. He turned around as someone tapped him on the shoulder. Sara socked him in the jaw. Dekker stumbled backwards, hitting his head on the wall.
“Let’s see how much he likes being unconscious,” she said, pushing the lever until the car lift was back in its upright position. “Honestly, Richard, I think I need to wear a helmet whenever I go out with you,” she said, rubbing her neck as she helped Daring out of the pit.
“Finally,” said Daring as he approached the unconscious Dekker. “Some answers at last.”
Dekker awoke with a piercing pain in the back of his skull. He was chained to his chair. Looking around, he found himself in a plain-looking room. The only door was across from him with the room’s single table between him and the door. There were no windows, so there was no way for him to know where he was.
The door opened and in came Daring and Sara. Daring plopped a large folder onto the table. “You’ve got quite a large rap sheet, Jason Dekker,” said Daring. “Enough to put you back in Sing Sing for a long, long time.”
“So?” spat back Dekker.
“You’re a known associate of the super criminal calling himself, the Spectre. Give us everything you know on him, and we’ll be able to commute your sentence,” stated Sara.
“I don’t have to tell you nothing,” shouted Dekker. “I got rights. Rights to a lawyer, in fact.”
“We are aware of the fact that you’ve been in and out of prison most of your life,” said Sara. “But this concerns the attempted thieft of government equipment.”
“And the government doesn’t like people who try and steal their secrets,” interrupted Daring. “In fact, there’s a pair of agents right outside that door. They think we’re wasting our time, ‘pussyfooting around with you.’ Do you think they’re right?”
“I ain’t talking,” insisted Dekker. “I’m a dead man if I talk. I just saw my partner get disintegrated. What could you possibly do to me that’s worst?”
“You’re right. We can’t do anything, but those government agents can do plenty,” replied Sara. “They can erase you from everyone’s records. You’d be a ghost, then.”
“I can’t. I can’t,” repeated Dekker.
“Looks like you need time to think it over,” said Daring. “We’ll be back in ten minutes.”
In the hallway, Daring asked, “What do you think?”
“He’s hard to read,” admitted Sara. “But if he calls our bluff, we’re done for.”
“What? We’ve got Old Timer and Junior here.”
“There’s no way we could pass them as government agents,” replied Sara.
“It’s worth a shot,” countered Daring. “We’ve got nothing to lose.”
Sara shook her head. “It’s not going to work. He’s too afraid of the Spectre. We could dangle him off a building, and he’d still not talk.”
“Then, how are we?” asked Daring.
Five minutes later, the door opened into the interrogation cell. Dekker was expecting Daring and Sara, but had the shock of his life. The Spectre had walked into his very room! But Dekker held no joy at this sight, for in the hands of his master was a .45 caliber automatic!
“Did you tell them anything?” asked the Spectre with menace beyond description.
“No, nothing. I swear,” blurted Dekker.
Apparently satisfied with his answer, the Spectre set the automatic down on the table and started to undo Dekker’s restrains. Dekker started to get up, but the Spectre motioned for him to sat in the seat.
“Your captors will be back at any moment,” stated the Spectre as he handed Dekker the automatic. “The instant they enter the room, kill them. When you’re sure you’ve eliminated them, then make your escape.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Dekker, but got no response. The Spectre went out of the room and stalked down the hall. He paused in the middle of the hall, at a most unremarkable section. Pressing a hidden button, a section of the wall opened, and the Spectre disappeared into the secret passage. He squeezed down the tight corridor that went between walls. The hooded man grasped at the shadows as he made his way through the maze of hidden corridors. Coming to the end, the Spectre pressed another switch and another door opened up, letting out into a different section of the facility.
The Spectre walked down the hallway, stopping at a particular door. Opening it, he produced a second automatic. He crept up to the lone man working in the laboratory. The Spectre poked the gun into the back of the unaware man. He turned with a start.
“Good evening Dr. Edwards,” said the Spectre. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Meanwhile, back in the interrogation room, Dekker waited nervously for Daring and Sara to return. The automatic felt heavy and cold in his sweaty hands. Without a clock present, it seemed like the whole world had stopped. He strained his ears, trying to listen for approaching footsteps.
Dekker knew that he had only one shot at this. The Spectre would reward him greatly, if he succeeded. Fail and he would die just like Ox. He pushed these thoughts aside as he heard a confident stride echoing the hallways outside. It must be Daring, returning to further their interrogation.
The door opened, and not waiting a second, Dekker stood up and started to empty the gun into the open doorway and whomever was standing there.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
As the car lift came rushing down to crush him, Richard Darington rolled towards the lift, falling into the worker’s pit beneath it. Daring looked up from within the pit as the descending lift came to an abrupt stop.
Dekker tried to peered underneath the car, hoping to catch a glimpse of Daring so that he could shoot him. He turned around as someone tapped him on the shoulder. Sara socked him in the jaw. Dekker stumbled backwards, hitting his head on the wall.
“Let’s see how much he likes being unconscious,” she said, pushing the lever until the car lift was back in its upright position. “Honestly, Richard, I think I need to wear a helmet whenever I go out with you,” she said, rubbing her neck as she helped Daring out of the pit.
“Finally,” said Daring as he approached the unconscious Dekker. “Some answers at last.”
Dekker awoke with a piercing pain in the back of his skull. He was chained to his chair. Looking around, he found himself in a plain-looking room. The only door was across from him with the room’s single table between him and the door. There were no windows, so there was no way for him to know where he was.
The door opened and in came Daring and Sara. Daring plopped a large folder onto the table. “You’ve got quite a large rap sheet, Jason Dekker,” said Daring. “Enough to put you back in Sing Sing for a long, long time.”
“So?” spat back Dekker.
“You’re a known associate of the super criminal calling himself, the Spectre. Give us everything you know on him, and we’ll be able to commute your sentence,” stated Sara.
“I don’t have to tell you nothing,” shouted Dekker. “I got rights. Rights to a lawyer, in fact.”
“We are aware of the fact that you’ve been in and out of prison most of your life,” said Sara. “But this concerns the attempted thieft of government equipment.”
“And the government doesn’t like people who try and steal their secrets,” interrupted Daring. “In fact, there’s a pair of agents right outside that door. They think we’re wasting our time, ‘pussyfooting around with you.’ Do you think they’re right?”
“I ain’t talking,” insisted Dekker. “I’m a dead man if I talk. I just saw my partner get disintegrated. What could you possibly do to me that’s worst?”
“You’re right. We can’t do anything, but those government agents can do plenty,” replied Sara. “They can erase you from everyone’s records. You’d be a ghost, then.”
“I can’t. I can’t,” repeated Dekker.
“Looks like you need time to think it over,” said Daring. “We’ll be back in ten minutes.”
In the hallway, Daring asked, “What do you think?”
“He’s hard to read,” admitted Sara. “But if he calls our bluff, we’re done for.”
“What? We’ve got Old Timer and Junior here.”
“There’s no way we could pass them as government agents,” replied Sara.
“It’s worth a shot,” countered Daring. “We’ve got nothing to lose.”
Sara shook her head. “It’s not going to work. He’s too afraid of the Spectre. We could dangle him off a building, and he’d still not talk.”
“Then, how are we?” asked Daring.
Five minutes later, the door opened into the interrogation cell. Dekker was expecting Daring and Sara, but had the shock of his life. The Spectre had walked into his very room! But Dekker held no joy at this sight, for in the hands of his master was a .45 caliber automatic!
“Did you tell them anything?” asked the Spectre with menace beyond description.
“No, nothing. I swear,” blurted Dekker.
Apparently satisfied with his answer, the Spectre set the automatic down on the table and started to undo Dekker’s restrains. Dekker started to get up, but the Spectre motioned for him to sat in the seat.
“Your captors will be back at any moment,” stated the Spectre as he handed Dekker the automatic. “The instant they enter the room, kill them. When you’re sure you’ve eliminated them, then make your escape.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Dekker, but got no response. The Spectre went out of the room and stalked down the hall. He paused in the middle of the hall, at a most unremarkable section. Pressing a hidden button, a section of the wall opened, and the Spectre disappeared into the secret passage. He squeezed down the tight corridor that went between walls. The hooded man grasped at the shadows as he made his way through the maze of hidden corridors. Coming to the end, the Spectre pressed another switch and another door opened up, letting out into a different section of the facility.
The Spectre walked down the hallway, stopping at a particular door. Opening it, he produced a second automatic. He crept up to the lone man working in the laboratory. The Spectre poked the gun into the back of the unaware man. He turned with a start.
“Good evening Dr. Edwards,” said the Spectre. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Meanwhile, back in the interrogation room, Dekker waited nervously for Daring and Sara to return. The automatic felt heavy and cold in his sweaty hands. Without a clock present, it seemed like the whole world had stopped. He strained his ears, trying to listen for approaching footsteps.
Dekker knew that he had only one shot at this. The Spectre would reward him greatly, if he succeeded. Fail and he would die just like Ox. He pushed these thoughts aside as he heard a confident stride echoing the hallways outside. It must be Daring, returning to further their interrogation.
The door opened, and not waiting a second, Dekker stood up and started to empty the gun into the open doorway and whomever was standing there.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Comments on Chapter Eight
I must admit that it was a lot of fun writing the death trap in chapters six and seven. I didn't want it to be too outlandish, though most of the really good ones are. The death trap turned out to be simple and very effective, grounded in the reality of a plausible fire prevention device of the future. Also, now our villain has a name. The Spectre was chosen because. as you readers will learn, it's very apt for the villain. It seemed like a lot of the Republic's masked villains have colorful names like The Crimson Ghost.
The booby trapped safe was one element I was itching to use. I remember watching a number of serials employing this particular device, such as The Adventures of Captain Marvel. Though things like electrified safes are no match for someone like Captain Marvel, many of the more mortal heroes, including Rick Daring, seem doomed to die a grisly death via the tricked out safe.
Hopefully, my serial's been keeping everyone on edge, awaiting next week's chapter. Chapter Eight is filled with action: a last minute rescue, a car chase, and a fist fight before a nail-biting end. Now, that's a serial!
The booby trapped safe was one element I was itching to use. I remember watching a number of serials employing this particular device, such as The Adventures of Captain Marvel. Though things like electrified safes are no match for someone like Captain Marvel, many of the more mortal heroes, including Rick Daring, seem doomed to die a grisly death via the tricked out safe.
Hopefully, my serial's been keeping everyone on edge, awaiting next week's chapter. Chapter Eight is filled with action: a last minute rescue, a car chase, and a fist fight before a nail-biting end. Now, that's a serial!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Eight: Death From Above
DARING– Sets a trap of his own in an attempt to get closer to capturing the allusive menace known as the Spectre.
DEKKER – Turns the table on Daring and switches on the booby trap just as Daring reaches into the safe.
Sitting on hood of her car, Sara watched the cabin with a pair of binoculars from the darkness of the forest. Moments earlier, she watched a pair of men enter the cabin. They had gone for Daring’s bait, and any minute, the trap would be sprung. But minutes dragged by, and Sara started to worry.
Climbing off her car, she tossed the binoculars into the passenger’s seat. She made her way down the sloping hill and soon found herself at the cabin. She glanced into one of the windows and immediately went into action. The large henchman was on the ground, slowly recovering from the safe’s electric booby trap, while the other thug’s hand wrapped around the handle to the booby trap’s power switch.
Sara kicked open the door, grabbing the nearest thing she could find, that being a cup. She tossed it towards the safe. Daring withdrew his hand as the cup whizzed by, shattering on the back of the safe. Daring’s quick reflexes saved him from the full blunt of the electric blast. Still dazed, Daring felt himself get knocked to the ground by a recovering Ox. Dekker turned off the booby trap and rushed over to snatch the plans from the safe.
They jumped out of the window, while Sara helped Daring up.
“Sara?” he asked. “When?”
“You didn’t think we’d let you come up here by yourself did you?” she replied.
They went to the window, but threw themselves to the ground as they heard gunfire as the villains drove off. After a moment of silence, they quietly moved outside. They could still make out the car driving off in the distance. They turned to find that the crooks had shot out the tires in Daring’s roadster.
“Mine’s just up the way,” stated Sara, as she led them up to her car. They climbed into her sleek car, and soon, the engine hummed to life. The headlights burned into the darkness of night. The car skidded down the hill and pulled onto the nearby road. Sara gunned it as the forest around them became a blur as the car picked up speed.
They caught up with the crooks on the winding roads through the mountains. There was not much traffic on the isolated roads, giving Sara more room to maneuver. She tried to pass the crooks, but they swerved, blocking her way. She tried going around the outside. This time, they let her pull beside them, only for them to ram into her. As the crooks bashed themselves into Sara’s car, her car was being knocked against the railing. As the crooks’ car lurched sideways, making way for their next assault, Sara suddenly hit the brakes. Sara’s car slipped back behind their opponent, and the crooks’ momentum carried them across the road and crashed into the railing.
Sara turned to overtake them, but the crooks swerved and hit them, sending Sara’s car into a spin. Sara spun the wheel, trying to regain control of the vehicle. Hitting the brakes, she stopped the car from going over the edge. By the time Daring and Sara got their bearing, the two henchmen had disappeared into the night.
They returned to the secret installation and met up with Dr Sergoff along with Junior and Old Timer who had been watching over Dr Edwards. Daring related their misfortunes.
“I was so sure that they’d go after me,” stated Edwards, mopping his brow. “It’s a shame that got another part of our secret plans.”
“Yes,” replied Dr. Sergoff. “My part, that is.”
“It seems like you’re the last one,” said Junior.
“That doesn’t comfort me very much,” replied Edwards with a sigh.
“It’s a little disheartening that we keep getting trounced by these addle-brained buffoons,” remarked Junior.
“That’s because they’re just hired thugs. This Spectre fellow, whomever he is, is the brains behind the operation, and it’s he who wants these plans,” spoke Daring.
“But what does he need them for? What are the plans even for?” asked Junior.
“It’s unfortunate that we can’t answer that question, young man,” said Sergoff.
“Dem rattlesnakes always seem to be one step ahead of us,” muttered Old Timer.
“How about we change that?” asked Sara as she entered the room. She showed everyone a blurry picture of a license plate.
“What’s this?” asked Junior.
“Having similar episodes in the past,” explained Sara. “I took the liberty of rigging my car with surveillance equipment to capture license plates of pursuing vehicles.” She passed around the photo. “While there’s no clean shot of the plates, I’ve run what I could make out through the system. The closest match is a car that was recently stolen. It more than likely came from Mike’s Auto Shop, run by a Thaddeus Carter. Thaddeus had ties with several chop shops and could be supplying the Spectre’s gang with cars and other equipment.”
“Good work, Sara,” said Daring as he stood up. “We’ll check out the lead,” he continued as Old Timer and Junior started to get up. “While Old Timer and Junior stay here and guard the scientists.”
“Aw, phooey,” muttered Old Timer as he plopped back in his seat.
Meanwhile, in the remains of a laboratory used as the Spectre’s hidden base of operations, Ox and Dekker were surprised to find their master waiting for them when they arrived. It was the first time they had ever met face to face.
“Here’s the next piece of the plans,” said Dekker as he handed over the piece of paper.
“Excellent,” hissed the Spectre. “But I am disappointed in you, Ox. Yet again we would have failed if it had not been for Dekker’s quick thinking.”
“How was I supposed to know it was booby trapped?” asked Ox.
“Enough of your excuses,” shouted the Spectre. “You will not fail me another time. Prepare to die.”
“I ain’t going down without a fight,” said Ox. He charged at the Spectre. He swung his mighty fist at the Spectre. The second it impacted on the Spectre, there was a flash of light, a whisp of smoke, and Ox was gone.
“Please remember, Dekker, that I have a personal ion shield. Anyone who touches it will be disintegrated, and only I will know when it is on and off.”
“Yes, sir,” was all that Dekker could manage. He had felt the immense heat from across the room.
A buzzing sound came from one of the screens. The Spectre flipped on the monitor. They watched the video from a hidden camera within Mike’s Auto Shop.
“So, they were able to trace your car back to good old Thaddeus,” pondered the Spectre. “Quickly, Dekker, get over there and kill them before Thaddeus tells them anything of importance.” He paused. “While you’re there, eliminate Thaddeus. He’s nothing more than a liability now.”
Ten minutes later, Dekker was kicking in the door to the auto shop. He, along with Watkins and Davis, entered the store and found Daring and Sara grilling Thaddeus in the garage.
“Spill it,” demanded Daring. “Who is the Spectre?”
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” shouted Thaddeus. “But I know where they hang out. It’s –“
A shot rang out and silenced Thaddeus forever. Daring and Sara turned to see the three thugs come out from behind the car lift.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” remarked Daring as they approached.
“Any last words?” asked Dekker. Before Daring could reply, Sara kicked the gun out of Dekker’s hand, and Daring pushed Dekker into his men before they could react. A quick punch from Daring laid out Watkins. Sara tripped Davis, hitting him in the back of the neck as he fell.
Dekker picked up a stool and threw it at them. Daring barely dodged it, but Sara was not so lucky. She collapsed to the ground, out cold. The two men struggle, exchanging blows. They fell onto a table, crushing it. Dekker kicked Daring off of him. He ran for the door, but Daring tackled him. Daring grabbed at Dekker, but Dekker pushed him off again.
Daring stumbled to the ground, rolling with the punch. He found himself under the car lift. Dekker ran over and pulled a lever, sending the suspended car down on top of Daring.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DEKKER – Turns the table on Daring and switches on the booby trap just as Daring reaches into the safe.
Sitting on hood of her car, Sara watched the cabin with a pair of binoculars from the darkness of the forest. Moments earlier, she watched a pair of men enter the cabin. They had gone for Daring’s bait, and any minute, the trap would be sprung. But minutes dragged by, and Sara started to worry.
Climbing off her car, she tossed the binoculars into the passenger’s seat. She made her way down the sloping hill and soon found herself at the cabin. She glanced into one of the windows and immediately went into action. The large henchman was on the ground, slowly recovering from the safe’s electric booby trap, while the other thug’s hand wrapped around the handle to the booby trap’s power switch.
Sara kicked open the door, grabbing the nearest thing she could find, that being a cup. She tossed it towards the safe. Daring withdrew his hand as the cup whizzed by, shattering on the back of the safe. Daring’s quick reflexes saved him from the full blunt of the electric blast. Still dazed, Daring felt himself get knocked to the ground by a recovering Ox. Dekker turned off the booby trap and rushed over to snatch the plans from the safe.
They jumped out of the window, while Sara helped Daring up.
“Sara?” he asked. “When?”
“You didn’t think we’d let you come up here by yourself did you?” she replied.
They went to the window, but threw themselves to the ground as they heard gunfire as the villains drove off. After a moment of silence, they quietly moved outside. They could still make out the car driving off in the distance. They turned to find that the crooks had shot out the tires in Daring’s roadster.
“Mine’s just up the way,” stated Sara, as she led them up to her car. They climbed into her sleek car, and soon, the engine hummed to life. The headlights burned into the darkness of night. The car skidded down the hill and pulled onto the nearby road. Sara gunned it as the forest around them became a blur as the car picked up speed.
They caught up with the crooks on the winding roads through the mountains. There was not much traffic on the isolated roads, giving Sara more room to maneuver. She tried to pass the crooks, but they swerved, blocking her way. She tried going around the outside. This time, they let her pull beside them, only for them to ram into her. As the crooks bashed themselves into Sara’s car, her car was being knocked against the railing. As the crooks’ car lurched sideways, making way for their next assault, Sara suddenly hit the brakes. Sara’s car slipped back behind their opponent, and the crooks’ momentum carried them across the road and crashed into the railing.
Sara turned to overtake them, but the crooks swerved and hit them, sending Sara’s car into a spin. Sara spun the wheel, trying to regain control of the vehicle. Hitting the brakes, she stopped the car from going over the edge. By the time Daring and Sara got their bearing, the two henchmen had disappeared into the night.
They returned to the secret installation and met up with Dr Sergoff along with Junior and Old Timer who had been watching over Dr Edwards. Daring related their misfortunes.
“I was so sure that they’d go after me,” stated Edwards, mopping his brow. “It’s a shame that got another part of our secret plans.”
“Yes,” replied Dr. Sergoff. “My part, that is.”
“It seems like you’re the last one,” said Junior.
“That doesn’t comfort me very much,” replied Edwards with a sigh.
“It’s a little disheartening that we keep getting trounced by these addle-brained buffoons,” remarked Junior.
“That’s because they’re just hired thugs. This Spectre fellow, whomever he is, is the brains behind the operation, and it’s he who wants these plans,” spoke Daring.
“But what does he need them for? What are the plans even for?” asked Junior.
“It’s unfortunate that we can’t answer that question, young man,” said Sergoff.
“Dem rattlesnakes always seem to be one step ahead of us,” muttered Old Timer.
“How about we change that?” asked Sara as she entered the room. She showed everyone a blurry picture of a license plate.
“What’s this?” asked Junior.
“Having similar episodes in the past,” explained Sara. “I took the liberty of rigging my car with surveillance equipment to capture license plates of pursuing vehicles.” She passed around the photo. “While there’s no clean shot of the plates, I’ve run what I could make out through the system. The closest match is a car that was recently stolen. It more than likely came from Mike’s Auto Shop, run by a Thaddeus Carter. Thaddeus had ties with several chop shops and could be supplying the Spectre’s gang with cars and other equipment.”
“Good work, Sara,” said Daring as he stood up. “We’ll check out the lead,” he continued as Old Timer and Junior started to get up. “While Old Timer and Junior stay here and guard the scientists.”
“Aw, phooey,” muttered Old Timer as he plopped back in his seat.
Meanwhile, in the remains of a laboratory used as the Spectre’s hidden base of operations, Ox and Dekker were surprised to find their master waiting for them when they arrived. It was the first time they had ever met face to face.
“Here’s the next piece of the plans,” said Dekker as he handed over the piece of paper.
“Excellent,” hissed the Spectre. “But I am disappointed in you, Ox. Yet again we would have failed if it had not been for Dekker’s quick thinking.”
“How was I supposed to know it was booby trapped?” asked Ox.
“Enough of your excuses,” shouted the Spectre. “You will not fail me another time. Prepare to die.”
“I ain’t going down without a fight,” said Ox. He charged at the Spectre. He swung his mighty fist at the Spectre. The second it impacted on the Spectre, there was a flash of light, a whisp of smoke, and Ox was gone.
“Please remember, Dekker, that I have a personal ion shield. Anyone who touches it will be disintegrated, and only I will know when it is on and off.”
“Yes, sir,” was all that Dekker could manage. He had felt the immense heat from across the room.
A buzzing sound came from one of the screens. The Spectre flipped on the monitor. They watched the video from a hidden camera within Mike’s Auto Shop.
“So, they were able to trace your car back to good old Thaddeus,” pondered the Spectre. “Quickly, Dekker, get over there and kill them before Thaddeus tells them anything of importance.” He paused. “While you’re there, eliminate Thaddeus. He’s nothing more than a liability now.”
Ten minutes later, Dekker was kicking in the door to the auto shop. He, along with Watkins and Davis, entered the store and found Daring and Sara grilling Thaddeus in the garage.
“Spill it,” demanded Daring. “Who is the Spectre?”
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” shouted Thaddeus. “But I know where they hang out. It’s –“
A shot rang out and silenced Thaddeus forever. Daring and Sara turned to see the three thugs come out from behind the car lift.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” remarked Daring as they approached.
“Any last words?” asked Dekker. Before Daring could reply, Sara kicked the gun out of Dekker’s hand, and Daring pushed Dekker into his men before they could react. A quick punch from Daring laid out Watkins. Sara tripped Davis, hitting him in the back of the neck as he fell.
Dekker picked up a stool and threw it at them. Daring barely dodged it, but Sara was not so lucky. She collapsed to the ground, out cold. The two men struggle, exchanging blows. They fell onto a table, crushing it. Dekker kicked Daring off of him. He ran for the door, but Daring tackled him. Daring grabbed at Dekker, but Dekker pushed him off again.
Daring stumbled to the ground, rolling with the punch. He found himself under the car lift. Dekker ran over and pulled a lever, sending the suspended car down on top of Daring.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Save Spider-Girl!
I'd like to think that I'm in the know when it comes to comics, but only recently have I learned that Spider-Girl is due to be cancelled with issue 30. Now, cancellation's not a new thing for Spider-Girl and her fans, but I'm surprised the new series is in danger so soon. It was only a month ago that the newly re-launched "Amazing Spider-Girl" celebrated their 25th issue.
Being a faithful reader of "Amazing Spider-Girl," it saddens me that this series is on Marvel's chopping block. DeFalco and Frenz bring back the classic days of Lee and Romita every month, with solid writing and stylish art. More importantly, Spider-Girl is one of the rarest of rarities: a positive female lead in a comic book.
So, spread the word, and if you're not buying this book yet, do so before it's too late!
Being a faithful reader of "Amazing Spider-Girl," it saddens me that this series is on Marvel's chopping block. DeFalco and Frenz bring back the classic days of Lee and Romita every month, with solid writing and stylish art. More importantly, Spider-Girl is one of the rarest of rarities: a positive female lead in a comic book.
So, spread the word, and if you're not buying this book yet, do so before it's too late!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Seven: The Secret Safe
THE SPECTRE– Announces his plans of world domination after murdering Dr. Scott with a fiendish death trap.
DARING – And Sara are trapped inside the same death trap, slowly suffocating to death.
Sara, Daring, and Dr. Edwards are laid quietly on the floor; their breathing uneven and raspy. It would only be a few more minutes before the last of the oxygen would be sucked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Junior and Old Timer were walking down the hallway towards the room. They were arguing as usual.
“I can’t believe the doctor gave you a clean bill of health,” stated Junior. “Doesn’t he know about your condition?”
“My condition, eh?” retorted Old Timer. “My only problem is you flapping your gums all the time.” They stopped in front of the door, where Dr. Sergoff was desperately pounding on the sealed door.
“What’s the matter?” asked Old Timer. “Fergit yer key or something?”
“The receptionist told us you were all down here. Did the meeting start without us?”
“You must help me!” cried Dr. Sergoff. “They killed Dr. Scott, and now the room’s sealed off. I’m afraid my colleague and your friends are already die!”
“Not on our watch,” replied Junior, examining the metal door. As standard issue for all of the Brilliant 5, Old Timer and Junior both had a small tab of plastique tucked away in a secret compartment on their belts. The small explosives had little destructive power except to break down a wall or tear a door off its hinges.
After a few tense seconds of preparations, Old Timer and Junior pulled Sergoff around the corner. Fingers in their ears, they detonated the explosives, and the door collapsed with a loud roar. Junior and Old Timer rushed into the room, and admist the smoke, they found their partners and dragged them out of the death trap.
Dr. Edwards was the first to stir. “What happened?” He asked. Sergoff filled him in as Junior helped up a slightly shaken Sara.
Daring slowly opened his eyes and said, “Am I glad that you two showed up late!”
Later, they all gathered after the three of them had time to recover from their near-death experience. They quietly mulled over the grim fact that the Spectre had again left victorious in this current battle of wits.
“The Spectre, huh?” mused Old Timer. “So, that’s what’s he calling himself?”
“Did you happen to recognize the voice?” asked Daring.
“No,” replied Edwards hastily.
“And you don’t know who could be targeting you?” asked Sara.
“There’s any number of countries interested in our research,” replied Sergoff.
“So, we’re back to square one, huh?” asked Junior.
“Not necessarily,” stated Daring. “Though the Spectre does seem to be able move uninhibited to and from this secure location , despite our improvements to the security.”
“What are you thinking, Richard?” asked Sara.
“My thinking is that maybe we can get the Spectre to come to us…” With that, Daring laid out his plan.
In the middle of the night, a car pulled up onto a secluded road. It pulled off of the road and came to a stop. Two men climbed out into the darkness of night. They made their way to a small opening in the shrubbery. One of them produced a pair of binoculars and peered through them. After a moment, he passed them to his taller partner.
“The boss was right on the money as usual,” said Dekker as Ox observed the cabin in the distance. “After that scare with the death trap, them big wigs escort themselves off to their remote houses, in hopes that we’d never find them.”
“But how come our master always know these things?” asked Ox, handing Dekker back his binoculars.
“I dunno,” admitted Dekker. “But he’s the brains. We just do what we’re told.” With that, the two men started to make their way towards the cabin with a small light in the window.
As they approached the cabin, they noticed one car parked towards the back of the cabin, but no other signs of life. They quietly re-checked the perimeter before peering into the window. Through the window, they saw a spacious room, lit by a large fireplace. There was a single chair facing the fireplace; its back was to the door. A nearby table held the remnants of dinner.
Dekker reached out and tested the doorknob. The door was unlocked. The two men snuck into the cabin as quietly as they could muster.
“Don’t make yourself at home,” said an authoritative voice from the chair. “You wouldn’t be staying long.” The two men of crime had expected to face an elderly scientist. Instead, they had fallen into a trap set by the scourge of the underworld, Rick Daring!
Daring rose from the chair, a gun in his hand. “I don’t have much practice with one of these, but at this range, I don’t think I’ll miss,” said Daring.
Dekker and Ox started to raise their hands until Dekker lashed out, sending a lamp into Daring’s hand. The two thugs dove at Daring as the gun slipped from his hand. Daring’s fist impacted on Dekker’s chin, but Ox just grabbed Daring and threw him across the room. Daring barely had a second to roll out of the way of the flying chair tossed his way.
Daring was about strike back when the gun in Dekker’s hand made him stop in his place.
“Don’t try nothing funny,” said Dekker. “Now, where is it? The plans?”
Daring held up his hands and nodded towards the wall. Keeping their distance, Dekker and Ox watched as Daring pushed aside a painting and pressed a hidden button. This revealed a small opening in the wall, with a piece of paper lying in it.
Without saying anything, Ox moved towards the opening. When he reached inside, two things happened simultaneously. A large electrical current jumped through Ox body, rendering the large man unconscious while blinding Dekker. Daring knocked the gun from Dekker’s hand and socked the thug to the ground.
Daring went over to the wall and opened another secret panel. This one contained the switch for the booby trap within the secret safe. Turning it off, Daring felt confident as he went to retrieve the secret plans.
But Dekker was not unconscious as Daring thought. The criminal dived for the security switch just as Daring reached inside the safe. There was a crackle of electricity and the sound of a body falling to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DARING – And Sara are trapped inside the same death trap, slowly suffocating to death.
Sara, Daring, and Dr. Edwards are laid quietly on the floor; their breathing uneven and raspy. It would only be a few more minutes before the last of the oxygen would be sucked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Junior and Old Timer were walking down the hallway towards the room. They were arguing as usual.
“I can’t believe the doctor gave you a clean bill of health,” stated Junior. “Doesn’t he know about your condition?”
“My condition, eh?” retorted Old Timer. “My only problem is you flapping your gums all the time.” They stopped in front of the door, where Dr. Sergoff was desperately pounding on the sealed door.
“What’s the matter?” asked Old Timer. “Fergit yer key or something?”
“The receptionist told us you were all down here. Did the meeting start without us?”
“You must help me!” cried Dr. Sergoff. “They killed Dr. Scott, and now the room’s sealed off. I’m afraid my colleague and your friends are already die!”
“Not on our watch,” replied Junior, examining the metal door. As standard issue for all of the Brilliant 5, Old Timer and Junior both had a small tab of plastique tucked away in a secret compartment on their belts. The small explosives had little destructive power except to break down a wall or tear a door off its hinges.
After a few tense seconds of preparations, Old Timer and Junior pulled Sergoff around the corner. Fingers in their ears, they detonated the explosives, and the door collapsed with a loud roar. Junior and Old Timer rushed into the room, and admist the smoke, they found their partners and dragged them out of the death trap.
Dr. Edwards was the first to stir. “What happened?” He asked. Sergoff filled him in as Junior helped up a slightly shaken Sara.
Daring slowly opened his eyes and said, “Am I glad that you two showed up late!”
Later, they all gathered after the three of them had time to recover from their near-death experience. They quietly mulled over the grim fact that the Spectre had again left victorious in this current battle of wits.
“The Spectre, huh?” mused Old Timer. “So, that’s what’s he calling himself?”
“Did you happen to recognize the voice?” asked Daring.
“No,” replied Edwards hastily.
“And you don’t know who could be targeting you?” asked Sara.
“There’s any number of countries interested in our research,” replied Sergoff.
“So, we’re back to square one, huh?” asked Junior.
“Not necessarily,” stated Daring. “Though the Spectre does seem to be able move uninhibited to and from this secure location , despite our improvements to the security.”
“What are you thinking, Richard?” asked Sara.
“My thinking is that maybe we can get the Spectre to come to us…” With that, Daring laid out his plan.
In the middle of the night, a car pulled up onto a secluded road. It pulled off of the road and came to a stop. Two men climbed out into the darkness of night. They made their way to a small opening in the shrubbery. One of them produced a pair of binoculars and peered through them. After a moment, he passed them to his taller partner.
“The boss was right on the money as usual,” said Dekker as Ox observed the cabin in the distance. “After that scare with the death trap, them big wigs escort themselves off to their remote houses, in hopes that we’d never find them.”
“But how come our master always know these things?” asked Ox, handing Dekker back his binoculars.
“I dunno,” admitted Dekker. “But he’s the brains. We just do what we’re told.” With that, the two men started to make their way towards the cabin with a small light in the window.
As they approached the cabin, they noticed one car parked towards the back of the cabin, but no other signs of life. They quietly re-checked the perimeter before peering into the window. Through the window, they saw a spacious room, lit by a large fireplace. There was a single chair facing the fireplace; its back was to the door. A nearby table held the remnants of dinner.
Dekker reached out and tested the doorknob. The door was unlocked. The two men snuck into the cabin as quietly as they could muster.
“Don’t make yourself at home,” said an authoritative voice from the chair. “You wouldn’t be staying long.” The two men of crime had expected to face an elderly scientist. Instead, they had fallen into a trap set by the scourge of the underworld, Rick Daring!
Daring rose from the chair, a gun in his hand. “I don’t have much practice with one of these, but at this range, I don’t think I’ll miss,” said Daring.
Dekker and Ox started to raise their hands until Dekker lashed out, sending a lamp into Daring’s hand. The two thugs dove at Daring as the gun slipped from his hand. Daring’s fist impacted on Dekker’s chin, but Ox just grabbed Daring and threw him across the room. Daring barely had a second to roll out of the way of the flying chair tossed his way.
Daring was about strike back when the gun in Dekker’s hand made him stop in his place.
“Don’t try nothing funny,” said Dekker. “Now, where is it? The plans?”
Daring held up his hands and nodded towards the wall. Keeping their distance, Dekker and Ox watched as Daring pushed aside a painting and pressed a hidden button. This revealed a small opening in the wall, with a piece of paper lying in it.
Without saying anything, Ox moved towards the opening. When he reached inside, two things happened simultaneously. A large electrical current jumped through Ox body, rendering the large man unconscious while blinding Dekker. Daring knocked the gun from Dekker’s hand and socked the thug to the ground.
Daring went over to the wall and opened another secret panel. This one contained the switch for the booby trap within the secret safe. Turning it off, Daring felt confident as he went to retrieve the secret plans.
But Dekker was not unconscious as Daring thought. The criminal dived for the security switch just as Daring reached inside the safe. There was a crackle of electricity and the sound of a body falling to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Six: The Death Trap
DEKKER – Stole the canister of Compound X from Sara.
DARING – Pursues Dekker and his men in the hopes of retrieving the Compound X.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. He slowly started to lower himself underneath the car. His feet dragged painfully against the pavement. When he gotten himself completely underneath the car, Daring let go, and the car zoomed over him. There was a loud explosion as the car slammed into the tanker. By the time Daring arose from the ground and got his bearings, Dekker and his men had vanished.
Meanwhile, in the burnout husk of an abandoned laboratory, Dekker and Ox entered the darkened room that housed the holographic transmitter. At the appropriate time, the hologram hummed to life, and the two henchmen were in the presence of their mysterious master.
“Success at last,” hissed their master.
“Yes,” replied Dekker. “We’ve obtained the materials to start building the machine.”
“You did well, Dekker,” said the hooded man. “You even succeeded where Ox had failed.” Ox cringed as their master spoke. “Remember, Ox, that I don’t tolerate failure easily. Next time, I will not be so forgiving.”
Both henchmen nodded their heads in mute agreement. “Neither of you know anything about me, but I know where you are at all times because of the tracers I have you wear. It would be quite easy for me to walk up to you and stab you, or to slip poison in your drink. Remember that the next time either of you fails me.”
The hologram hiccupped; static momentarily obscured the hooded man’s visage. “Now, we must proceed with my plans to obtain the rest of the blueprints. Here is what I need you to do…”
Rick Daring and Sara were walking the long hallways of a local hospital. They had just started to recover from Dekker’s recent attack where they heard the news of the saucer crash and rushed over to the hospital. Sara rubbed the back of her head.
“You don’t have to do this,” said Daring. “The guys and I can handle this one.”
“That Compound X was put under my protection,” replied Sara. “I’m not backing out of this until I retrieve it.”
“Fair enough,” said Daring as they entered Old Timer’s room. Old Timer was lying in the hospital bed. Surrounding him was Junior, Marissa, Johnny, and Teresa.
“Daring! Finally!” shouted Old Timer. “Tell these young whippersnappers that I’m fine. They got me all bound up like I’m in my deathbed.”
“It’s good to see you’re doing fine,” said Daring with a smile. “Old Timer, you remember Sara, don’t you?”
“Yer dern tootin’,” replied Old Timer. “Always a pleasure.”
“The same goes for you,” said Sara. “We were so worried when we all heard the news.”
“We were very lucky to walk away with some minor cuts and scrapes. The doctor wanted Old Timer to stay overnight for observation, since he had been unconscious for a long period of time,” stated Johnny.
“Well, phooey with that!” exclaimed Old Timer. “I’m fit as a fiddle!”
“Why don’t you listen to the doctor for a change?” asked Junior.
“You’d like me stuck in a hospital all day,” retorted Old Timer.
“Enough you two,” interrupted Daring. “It wouldn’t hurt to follow the doctor’s order, Old Timer.”
“Hah!” said Junior.
“It won’t be too bad,” said Sara. “Especially with Junior here keeping you company.”
“Huh?” said a bemused Junior. “But… but I got a date tonight!”
“She’ll understand,” said Sara. “You two behave, and we’ll see you in the morning.” Sara bent and kissed Old Timer on the forehead.
“Well, shucks,” was all Old Timer could say.
The next day, Sara and Daring drove to the secret laboratory where the remaining three scientists continued to work on their top secret project. Upon their arrival, the scientists went to meet with them, but only Sergoff and Edwards showed up.
“Where’s Doctor Scott?” asked Daring.
“I don’t know,” replied Sergoff. “Last time I saw him, he was in his private study.” The two scientists led Daring and Sara to Scott’s study. Edwards quietly knocked on the door, but there was no reply.
Daring cautiously opened the door, only to find Scott sitting quietly in his armchair. It was only when they approached him that they discovered that he was dead. Yet there was no sign of a struggle and no wounds found on Scott’s body. Sergoff quietly excused himself from the room, visibly shaken at the sight of the corpse.
“As far as I can tell,” said Sara, examining the body. “He died from asphyxiation.”
Daring nodded his head in agreement. “But what caused it?”
“It looked like he was listening to his radio,” said Edwards idly.
“Don’t touch that!” said both Sara and Daring, but it was already too late. Edwards had twisted the knob on the large stereo. A malevolent voice filled the room as steel door slammed down, covering the window and door.
“Welcome, fools, to your death!” said the eerie voice. “I am the Spectre, and you have stood in my way for long enough. I will have my revenge and show the world what true power is!” Sara and Daring were scanning the room, searching for some possible escape route.
“You will now share the same fate as poor Dr. Scott. It seems like when you activated the radio, it sent a signal to the main computer, telling it that there’s a fire in this room. First, it will seal off the room, and then, it will suck the oxygen out of the room in order to suffocate the fire.” The Spectre let out a maniacal laugh.
Daring and Sara were already taking the carpeting off the floor and pressing them against the room’s vents, trying to prevent the powerful fans from sucking all the air out. Daring signaled Edwards to come over to him. Daring let Edwards take over for him as Daring went and sized up the door.
Daring put his muscular shoulder into the door, but it did not budge. He tried again but knew that force wasn’t going to work. The air was already getting thin, and he was finding it hard to catch his breath. Daring started to pull something out of his watch, when he suddenly collapsed.
“Richard!” exclaimed Sara. Forgetting the vent, she rushed over to his prone body. Checking him, she found him breathing shallowly. Slowly, Sara started giving him mouth to mouth, reviving his lungs with fresh oxygen from hers. But soon, she felt lightheaded, and the room was swaying.
As she fell backwards, she caught Edwards out of the corner of her eyes. He was lying very still on the ground. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was the voice of the sinister Spectre.
“Death is the reward of all who stand in my way! Death!” His eerie laughter filled the quiet room.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DARING – Pursues Dekker and his men in the hopes of retrieving the Compound X.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. He slowly started to lower himself underneath the car. His feet dragged painfully against the pavement. When he gotten himself completely underneath the car, Daring let go, and the car zoomed over him. There was a loud explosion as the car slammed into the tanker. By the time Daring arose from the ground and got his bearings, Dekker and his men had vanished.
Meanwhile, in the burnout husk of an abandoned laboratory, Dekker and Ox entered the darkened room that housed the holographic transmitter. At the appropriate time, the hologram hummed to life, and the two henchmen were in the presence of their mysterious master.
“Success at last,” hissed their master.
“Yes,” replied Dekker. “We’ve obtained the materials to start building the machine.”
“You did well, Dekker,” said the hooded man. “You even succeeded where Ox had failed.” Ox cringed as their master spoke. “Remember, Ox, that I don’t tolerate failure easily. Next time, I will not be so forgiving.”
Both henchmen nodded their heads in mute agreement. “Neither of you know anything about me, but I know where you are at all times because of the tracers I have you wear. It would be quite easy for me to walk up to you and stab you, or to slip poison in your drink. Remember that the next time either of you fails me.”
The hologram hiccupped; static momentarily obscured the hooded man’s visage. “Now, we must proceed with my plans to obtain the rest of the blueprints. Here is what I need you to do…”
Rick Daring and Sara were walking the long hallways of a local hospital. They had just started to recover from Dekker’s recent attack where they heard the news of the saucer crash and rushed over to the hospital. Sara rubbed the back of her head.
“You don’t have to do this,” said Daring. “The guys and I can handle this one.”
“That Compound X was put under my protection,” replied Sara. “I’m not backing out of this until I retrieve it.”
“Fair enough,” said Daring as they entered Old Timer’s room. Old Timer was lying in the hospital bed. Surrounding him was Junior, Marissa, Johnny, and Teresa.
“Daring! Finally!” shouted Old Timer. “Tell these young whippersnappers that I’m fine. They got me all bound up like I’m in my deathbed.”
“It’s good to see you’re doing fine,” said Daring with a smile. “Old Timer, you remember Sara, don’t you?”
“Yer dern tootin’,” replied Old Timer. “Always a pleasure.”
“The same goes for you,” said Sara. “We were so worried when we all heard the news.”
“We were very lucky to walk away with some minor cuts and scrapes. The doctor wanted Old Timer to stay overnight for observation, since he had been unconscious for a long period of time,” stated Johnny.
“Well, phooey with that!” exclaimed Old Timer. “I’m fit as a fiddle!”
“Why don’t you listen to the doctor for a change?” asked Junior.
“You’d like me stuck in a hospital all day,” retorted Old Timer.
“Enough you two,” interrupted Daring. “It wouldn’t hurt to follow the doctor’s order, Old Timer.”
“Hah!” said Junior.
“It won’t be too bad,” said Sara. “Especially with Junior here keeping you company.”
“Huh?” said a bemused Junior. “But… but I got a date tonight!”
“She’ll understand,” said Sara. “You two behave, and we’ll see you in the morning.” Sara bent and kissed Old Timer on the forehead.
“Well, shucks,” was all Old Timer could say.
The next day, Sara and Daring drove to the secret laboratory where the remaining three scientists continued to work on their top secret project. Upon their arrival, the scientists went to meet with them, but only Sergoff and Edwards showed up.
“Where’s Doctor Scott?” asked Daring.
“I don’t know,” replied Sergoff. “Last time I saw him, he was in his private study.” The two scientists led Daring and Sara to Scott’s study. Edwards quietly knocked on the door, but there was no reply.
Daring cautiously opened the door, only to find Scott sitting quietly in his armchair. It was only when they approached him that they discovered that he was dead. Yet there was no sign of a struggle and no wounds found on Scott’s body. Sergoff quietly excused himself from the room, visibly shaken at the sight of the corpse.
“As far as I can tell,” said Sara, examining the body. “He died from asphyxiation.”
Daring nodded his head in agreement. “But what caused it?”
“It looked like he was listening to his radio,” said Edwards idly.
“Don’t touch that!” said both Sara and Daring, but it was already too late. Edwards had twisted the knob on the large stereo. A malevolent voice filled the room as steel door slammed down, covering the window and door.
“Welcome, fools, to your death!” said the eerie voice. “I am the Spectre, and you have stood in my way for long enough. I will have my revenge and show the world what true power is!” Sara and Daring were scanning the room, searching for some possible escape route.
“You will now share the same fate as poor Dr. Scott. It seems like when you activated the radio, it sent a signal to the main computer, telling it that there’s a fire in this room. First, it will seal off the room, and then, it will suck the oxygen out of the room in order to suffocate the fire.” The Spectre let out a maniacal laugh.
Daring and Sara were already taking the carpeting off the floor and pressing them against the room’s vents, trying to prevent the powerful fans from sucking all the air out. Daring signaled Edwards to come over to him. Daring let Edwards take over for him as Daring went and sized up the door.
Daring put his muscular shoulder into the door, but it did not budge. He tried again but knew that force wasn’t going to work. The air was already getting thin, and he was finding it hard to catch his breath. Daring started to pull something out of his watch, when he suddenly collapsed.
“Richard!” exclaimed Sara. Forgetting the vent, she rushed over to his prone body. Checking him, she found him breathing shallowly. Slowly, Sara started giving him mouth to mouth, reviving his lungs with fresh oxygen from hers. But soon, she felt lightheaded, and the room was swaying.
As she fell backwards, she caught Edwards out of the corner of her eyes. He was lying very still on the ground. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was the voice of the sinister Spectre.
“Death is the reward of all who stand in my way! Death!” His eerie laughter filled the quiet room.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Comments on Chapter 5
The latest chapter introduces Sara, my serial's heroine. It's a shame that many serials don't have very strong female characters. Most female characters are relegated to the hero's girlfriend/secretary/lab assistant who always gets knocked out/kidnapped/tied up. There are a few serials with leading heroines, such as Perils of Nyoka, but sadly these are far and few between. Linda Stirling (Zorro's Black Whip) and Kay Aldridge (The Perils of Nyoka) were lucky enough to portray these strong female characters.
I know, I know. It may seem hypocritical to write about having strong female characters, when Sara didn't do much in Chapter 5 besides get knocked unconscious, though she did hold her own against Dekker. But in future chapters, she will be in the thick of it along with Daring, and will probably have more than one opportunity to save our hero for certain death.
I know, I know. It may seem hypocritical to write about having strong female characters, when Sara didn't do much in Chapter 5 besides get knocked unconscious, though she did hold her own against Dekker. But in future chapters, she will be in the thick of it along with Daring, and will probably have more than one opportunity to save our hero for certain death.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Five: The Woman in White
OX – Sabataged the saucer containing Old Timer, Teresa, and Johnny Highpitch, causing it to crash into the ground.
The giant saucer crashed into a vast farm field, tearing up the ground with a mighty roar. Flames erupted all over the saucer. Inside the cockpit, among the ruined controls, was the Emergency Safety System, which was luckily still intact when the saucer crashed.
Its on-board sensors detected something wrong and activated the emergency foam, spraying it all over the cockpit. The foam acted very similar to an airbag in that it provided cushion against the initial impact. In other words, it saved Johnny Highpitch’s life.
Johnny woke up among the foam; everywhere sirens blaring. His body was sore, but he would live. He limped his way through the wrecked hallways, until he came upon a groggy Teresa. Old Timer was safely strapped to his bed, but still unconscious. Johnny helped Teresa untie him, and they both carried the body out of the saucer.
There, in the mud, they saw large footprints, leading into the forest nearby. Ox had made his getaway. They laid Old Timer down as emergency vehicles appeared over the horizon.
“Daring’s not going to be happy,” said Johnny. “I wrecked his favorite saucer.”
Meanwhile, Daring and Junior were making their way back to the Institute in his roadster. Pulling up in a free parking space, Daring noticed a sleek, white car that wasn’t there when he had left. Daring knew who it belonged to and was curious as to why she was here.
Approaching the Institute’s sitting room, Daring heard Marissa’s melodious laugh. Daring entered to find Marissa entertaining Sara, the Woman in White. She stood beside a large fireplace, while Marissa sat in a nearby armchair. Sara wore her long, dark hair back in a bun, while stray strands danced before her eyes. A dark navy shirt peeked out of her white jacket and pants.
Her green eyes sparkled as she spotted Daring entering the ornate room. “We were just taking about you, Richard,” she said, using Daring’s full first name. “I was just telling dear Marissa about our misadventure in Tibet with the Yeti and that strange Doctor fellow.”
“Keeping out trouble lately, Sara?” asked Daring.
“That’s my line,” she replied. “Clearly, from what I’ve been hearing, you should be kept on a shorter leash. Imagine my surprise hearing that none other than Richard Darington and his Brilliant 5 was called in to investigate one of the most secure compounds on the planet. I have no idea what you turned up, but it wasn’t long before they contacted my people and asked to use our sample of Compound X, while ‘regular security measures’ were being examined.”
“Compound X? You brought it with you?” asked Daring.
“Yes, yes,” she said impatiently. “Where are your manners, Richard? Aren’t you even going to introduce me?”
“Of course,” said Daring. “Marissa, Junior. This is Sara, a top-rate negotiator I’ve worked with a number of times.”
“Pleasure to meet you both,” she said as she shook their hands. She gave Daring a smile.
“What?” he asked.
“I only count two,” she said. “Where are the other three?”
“They had to make a trip to the moon. They should be back any time now.”
“More Compound X?” she asked. “This gets more interesting every minute. By any chance, do you know what they need the Compound X for?”
“It’s the fuel that runs their secret project, whatever that is,” remarked Daring. “Where is your Compound X, Sara?”
“It’s in the other room. I’ll just pop over and get it, shall I?” She left Daring, Junior, and Marissa. In the next room, she went over to the desk where the polished metal briefcase lay. Her fingers had just wrapped themselves around the case’s plastic handle when she felt the familiar sensation of a gun being poked into her back.
“Don’t say anything or I’ll shoot,” said Dekker from behind her. She glanced to her left, noticing the ajar door leading to the balcony. “Open the case and give me the Compound X.”
“You’re a very well-informed man,” said Sara as the briefcase scanned her fingerprints. “How did you happen to know I was here?”
“We got people staked out all over, watching Daring’s every move,” said Dekker as the briefcase snapped open. “And we figured them lab guys need more of that Compound X stuff, and here you come with a big suitcase.”
“Very clever,” she said, pulling a canister out of a foam brace. “Did you think of that yourself or did you have help?”
“Naturally, our…” Dekker caught himself before he completed the sentence.
“So, you are working for someone. I’ll be sure to pass that on to Richard when I see him next,” she said. “By the way, put the gun down.”
“What?”
“Put down the gun, or I’ll smash this into the ground, and they’ll be picking up little pieces of ourselves for the next three weeks.” Dekker stared her in the eyes, trying to read her gambit. He slowly compiled, not because of her threat but because of Davis silently sneaking up behind her.
Davis slugged her in the back of the head with the butt of his gun, snatching the canister as she tumbled to the ground. They scurried to the door to balcony in order to make their getaway.
Moments later, Daring came into the room. “Sara!” he shouted when he saw the prone body on the floor. He rushed to her, checking her vitals. Noticing the empty briefcase, it didn’t take long for Daring to put two and two together. He ran to the open balcony doors and leapt off the balcony.
He landed on top of Davis. A quick punch and Davis was out like a light. Turning, he saw Dekker climbing into a car. He crossed the yard and climbed over the fence, just as the car started to drive away. Without thinking, Daring leapt up the back of a nearby parked car and jumped onto the top of the fleeing car’s roof.
His landing made a significant THUD, which alerted Dekker. Soon, he and Watkins started to ventilate the ceiling with their automatics. Feeling the bullets whiz by, Daring pushed himself forward off the roof and onto the hood of the car. He quickly perched himself onto the car’s front bumper, pressing his body against the car’s front grill.
With Daring hiding in the front of the car, Dekker and his men were finding it hard to get a bead on Daring. Dekker saw a nearby fuel tanker, and he told the driver to head right for it. One by one, Dekker and his men jumped from the car.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. The car ran into the tanker, causing a large fireball. Fire everywhere, there was no way anyone could have survived.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
The giant saucer crashed into a vast farm field, tearing up the ground with a mighty roar. Flames erupted all over the saucer. Inside the cockpit, among the ruined controls, was the Emergency Safety System, which was luckily still intact when the saucer crashed.
Its on-board sensors detected something wrong and activated the emergency foam, spraying it all over the cockpit. The foam acted very similar to an airbag in that it provided cushion against the initial impact. In other words, it saved Johnny Highpitch’s life.
Johnny woke up among the foam; everywhere sirens blaring. His body was sore, but he would live. He limped his way through the wrecked hallways, until he came upon a groggy Teresa. Old Timer was safely strapped to his bed, but still unconscious. Johnny helped Teresa untie him, and they both carried the body out of the saucer.
There, in the mud, they saw large footprints, leading into the forest nearby. Ox had made his getaway. They laid Old Timer down as emergency vehicles appeared over the horizon.
“Daring’s not going to be happy,” said Johnny. “I wrecked his favorite saucer.”
Meanwhile, Daring and Junior were making their way back to the Institute in his roadster. Pulling up in a free parking space, Daring noticed a sleek, white car that wasn’t there when he had left. Daring knew who it belonged to and was curious as to why she was here.
Approaching the Institute’s sitting room, Daring heard Marissa’s melodious laugh. Daring entered to find Marissa entertaining Sara, the Woman in White. She stood beside a large fireplace, while Marissa sat in a nearby armchair. Sara wore her long, dark hair back in a bun, while stray strands danced before her eyes. A dark navy shirt peeked out of her white jacket and pants.
Her green eyes sparkled as she spotted Daring entering the ornate room. “We were just taking about you, Richard,” she said, using Daring’s full first name. “I was just telling dear Marissa about our misadventure in Tibet with the Yeti and that strange Doctor fellow.”
“Keeping out trouble lately, Sara?” asked Daring.
“That’s my line,” she replied. “Clearly, from what I’ve been hearing, you should be kept on a shorter leash. Imagine my surprise hearing that none other than Richard Darington and his Brilliant 5 was called in to investigate one of the most secure compounds on the planet. I have no idea what you turned up, but it wasn’t long before they contacted my people and asked to use our sample of Compound X, while ‘regular security measures’ were being examined.”
“Compound X? You brought it with you?” asked Daring.
“Yes, yes,” she said impatiently. “Where are your manners, Richard? Aren’t you even going to introduce me?”
“Of course,” said Daring. “Marissa, Junior. This is Sara, a top-rate negotiator I’ve worked with a number of times.”
“Pleasure to meet you both,” she said as she shook their hands. She gave Daring a smile.
“What?” he asked.
“I only count two,” she said. “Where are the other three?”
“They had to make a trip to the moon. They should be back any time now.”
“More Compound X?” she asked. “This gets more interesting every minute. By any chance, do you know what they need the Compound X for?”
“It’s the fuel that runs their secret project, whatever that is,” remarked Daring. “Where is your Compound X, Sara?”
“It’s in the other room. I’ll just pop over and get it, shall I?” She left Daring, Junior, and Marissa. In the next room, she went over to the desk where the polished metal briefcase lay. Her fingers had just wrapped themselves around the case’s plastic handle when she felt the familiar sensation of a gun being poked into her back.
“Don’t say anything or I’ll shoot,” said Dekker from behind her. She glanced to her left, noticing the ajar door leading to the balcony. “Open the case and give me the Compound X.”
“You’re a very well-informed man,” said Sara as the briefcase scanned her fingerprints. “How did you happen to know I was here?”
“We got people staked out all over, watching Daring’s every move,” said Dekker as the briefcase snapped open. “And we figured them lab guys need more of that Compound X stuff, and here you come with a big suitcase.”
“Very clever,” she said, pulling a canister out of a foam brace. “Did you think of that yourself or did you have help?”
“Naturally, our…” Dekker caught himself before he completed the sentence.
“So, you are working for someone. I’ll be sure to pass that on to Richard when I see him next,” she said. “By the way, put the gun down.”
“What?”
“Put down the gun, or I’ll smash this into the ground, and they’ll be picking up little pieces of ourselves for the next three weeks.” Dekker stared her in the eyes, trying to read her gambit. He slowly compiled, not because of her threat but because of Davis silently sneaking up behind her.
Davis slugged her in the back of the head with the butt of his gun, snatching the canister as she tumbled to the ground. They scurried to the door to balcony in order to make their getaway.
Moments later, Daring came into the room. “Sara!” he shouted when he saw the prone body on the floor. He rushed to her, checking her vitals. Noticing the empty briefcase, it didn’t take long for Daring to put two and two together. He ran to the open balcony doors and leapt off the balcony.
He landed on top of Davis. A quick punch and Davis was out like a light. Turning, he saw Dekker climbing into a car. He crossed the yard and climbed over the fence, just as the car started to drive away. Without thinking, Daring leapt up the back of a nearby parked car and jumped onto the top of the fleeing car’s roof.
His landing made a significant THUD, which alerted Dekker. Soon, he and Watkins started to ventilate the ceiling with their automatics. Feeling the bullets whiz by, Daring pushed himself forward off the roof and onto the hood of the car. He quickly perched himself onto the car’s front bumper, pressing his body against the car’s front grill.
With Daring hiding in the front of the car, Dekker and his men were finding it hard to get a bead on Daring. Dekker saw a nearby fuel tanker, and he told the driver to head right for it. One by one, Dekker and his men jumped from the car.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. The car ran into the tanker, causing a large fireball. Fire everywhere, there was no way anyone could have survived.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
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